Photos by Ollie Hardy
Inspired by an anonymous ‘vandal’ who made alterations to the Brewery Lane bus shelter last year, Brimscombe and Thrupp Parish Council commissioned Studio 18 to revamp the bus shelters on the A419 London Road into inspiring and engaging art installations. The Brewery Lane bus stop transformation - which included the addition of a comfy chair, book shelf, ornaments, pictures, bunting and lighting - hit the local and national newspapers as a quirky feel-good story.
Eleven bus stops have been transformed into public works of art forming a trail along London Road, feeding creatively into the Brimscombe and Thrupp community. The ‘Art shelters’ are designed to bring a little joy and also carry a message either through environmental care or celebration of local community and nature, using reclaimed material wherever possible. The eye-catching bus stops even caught the attention of the BBC who recently came down to find out more about the project and interview some of the artists involved.
Studio 18 and Parish Council invite you to take the Art Shelter trail to revel in the wonderfully creative and immersive installations in what were once dreary bus stops. Starting at Bowbridge and going on to Toadsmoor, the trail ends at Studio 18 where there will be a celebration of the artists involved. Artists' work for sale will be on exhibition and a chance to discuss and find out more about the inspiration behind the project.
It's shaping up to be a fantastic day with food stalls by Chief and CocoCaravan, and tunes by Lensmen, Loco Dooms, CONCEPT13 and Jimmy Jam. With a selection of specially designed Studio 18 cocktails…
The launch of the Art Shelter project takes place this Saturday 5th of September from 1pm onwards, free entry. Entrance strictly via canal and the exhibition runs until 20th September. Click here for the facebook event page and visit facebook.com/Studio18Stroud for further info.
ART SHELTER TRAIL:
1. Wonderland by Kazz Hollick and Isa Clee, Bowbridge Bus Depot Bus Stop
Welcome to the Magical Wonderland Bowbridge Bus Depot Perikaleidoscope Bus Stop! It’s all the fun of the fair as you step into a world of blue skies, fluffy clouds, rainbows and magical mirrors. See the world from a different perspective while you wait. Kazz is a visual artist who started with photography at Brighton University, then on returning to Stroud and working with a variety of artists and musicians, has experimented with mixed media and community/public installations. Isa has always been fascinated by shiny, twinkly, reflective, vision altering materials. Her work involves creating tiny sparkly worlds inside beautiful wooden boxes to delight and intrigue the viewer. In an increasingly hectic and challenging modern world, her aim is to make people smile with a moment of magical whimsy.
2. A Dog’s Night Out by Freya Tate, Griffin Mill Estate Bus Stop
Freya’s bus shelter honours Stroud’s unique and rich history, particularly focusing on its incredibly strong sense of community and passion for social issues. Her design celebrates the human figure, incorporating elements of movement and dance which are fundamental themes in her work. Freya Tate is interested in the representation of the figure/body in its practical state and emotional duality, stemming from her work as a musician and life model.
3. Thrupp Cathedrale by Gavin McClafferty, Kingfisher Business Park Bus Stop
Taking his cue from the "dazzle patterns" of the first world war and inverting the idea of camouflage, using a mixture of donated paints, found wood and site hoarding, Gavin has transformed this bus shelter into a beautiful and iconic feature, reminiscent of the blue tin church that once resided nearby this stop. Growing up in London, Gavin's art career started in 1989, creating huge portable murals for the burgeoning underground dance and rave scene. He now has his studio in Stroud; an artists' enclave that plays host to many leading curators, writers and artists.
4. The Little Raindrop by Ghost Sung, Brewery Lane Bus Stop
Ghost Sung’s bus shelter illustrates the story of the water cycle. This environmental beauty parallels the cycle of life, work, love, loss, rejuvenation. Lessons are learnt or mistakes are repeated. Ghost sung writes stories. He is an award winning film and television director and is now experimenting with the written word as art. He is inspired by the joy of childhood and the wonder of science.
5. Musical Chairs by Alice Sheppard Fidler, Brewery Lane Bus Stop
Alice’s shelter draws attention to the building's original materials by colouring and outlining the bricks in bright, bold colours, and accentuates its form through the use of strong lines that mimic a simple drawing. The colour palette highlights certain aspects of the area’s heritage: red for Stroudwater Scarlet cloth, blue for the rivers and canals, and white for sheep’s wool. The interior of the shelter is adorned with artwork created by Year Six students from Thrupp School. Local illustrator Hannah Shaw worked on a project with the students to create artwork inspired by local wildlife. Using discarded and recycled materials, Alice Sheppard Fidler makes site-specific installations that enable new narratives to emerge alongside those that are stored within her chosen materials. These often large-scale installations seek to question the relationship with self and others in an age when people are spending more time than ever away from other people, in the digital realm. Bailey Paints of Griffin Mill, London Rd, Stroud, has kindly sponsored this shelter.
